C.A. Milson's Blog, page 152
October 8, 2018
VBT – THE EXENE CHRONICLES
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Camille will be awarding a lovely pen and notebook to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
Camille A. Collins’s lyrical debut novel speaks to the passionate engagement of adolescent girls—with music, with injustice, with love, with life. This is a courageous coming-of-age story, one that poet Nikki Giovanni recommends “sharing with our teenage sons and daughters.”
Collins’s 1980s southern California set novel is a literary debut that tackles social inequality with poetic riffs and heart-pounding angst.
Read an Excerpt:
With the endless choices of the Salvation Army thrift store came the opportunity to take on whatever costume, and with it, whichever fantasy role they chose. Much like their descendant courtship with melancholy, their love of the clothes and hairstyles of the late 1950s and early ’60s was not grounded in reality, but in the promise of some Shangri-la where girls beguiled with hooded eyelids and teased hair, the glimmer of pale, iridescent gloss on full lips.
“Lia! You’ve got to see what I found for you!”
Ryan gave up waiting and raced to the back of the store, where Lia was admiring jewel-encrusted pocketbooks, and grabbed her by the hand. In a row of old frocks, some of them musty and stained, others absurd in their grandiose embellishment of floor- length drapery, puffed sleeve, and sequin, Ryan had discovered a jewel.
“Stand still now.” Taking her by the shoulders, Ryan made Lia stand tall and straight while she held the sleeveless, pink satin, ’60s-style dress up to Lia’s small frame.
Stepping in front of a mirror with the dress draped against her body, Lia cried, “Oh my god. I love it! I can’t believe how rad you are!” She threw her arms around Ryan’s neck.
“It’ll be your Supremes dress,” Ryan decided.
Ryan wasn’t as lucky in finding anything special at the thrift shop that day. To strike out at the Salvation Armywasonething, butatthedrugstoretherewasnever any shortage of items for consolation. With exactly $8.37 worth of merchandise between them, the girls were delighted by the prospect of getting back home where, imprisoned inside their still girlishly furnished bedrooms turned out in fluffy white comforters and stuffed unicorns, which they clung to during witching hours, when they dreamt of being spirited away by those creatures come to life, they would work up their sadness like warm palms dredging up the dark forces of a Ouija Board.
As they clambered onto the bus that would take them back to their serene pocket of suburbia, the two girls clasped hands.
“I love you!” Lia squealed. “You’re my best friend in the entire world!”
“You’re mine too!” Ryan cried.
If spilling peroxide on the pale green bathroom rug, which caused a spreading white stain and made Ryan’s mom yell at the girls, wasn’t foreshadowing—a telling clue that all that conjuring had been unnecessary— then Ryan’s cocky attitude once the peroxide took hold, and she showed up to school the next day tossing her long blond hair all over the place, should have been. “Coming over after school?” Lia leaned over to whisper as they prepped for a science lab.
Ryan shook her head. “Elizabeth Cole’s sneaking boys over while her mom’s out. I’d invite you, but you don’t drink, don’t make out…” Ryan flung her hair off her shoulder and abruptly turned away.
Ryan’s introduction to Neil Jimenez two weeks later wasn’t exactly the dream prescribed by the clutching of those unicorns, or their infant attachment to Baudelaire’s feverish lamentations; neither was the fact that Lia would end up donning her pretty pink “Supremes” dress on the loneliest day of her life.
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About the Author
Camille A. Collins has an MFA in Creative Writing from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She has been the recipient of the Short Fiction Prize from the South Carolina Arts Commission, and her writing has appeared in The African-American National Biography, published by Harvard University and Oxford University Press; in The Twisted Vine, a literary journal of Western New Mexico University, and other places.
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B07HGLR7FN/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vu00_tkin_p1_i0
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4398269.Camille_Collins
Publisher Author Page: http://www.brainmillpress.com/the-exene-chronicles
Buy link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07FB2MHT1/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i0
Camille will be awarding a lovely pen and notebook to a randomly drawn winner.
October 7, 2018
Book Blast – AND THEN HE WAS GONE
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Joan Hall Hovey will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
WHERE IS ADAM?
Julie Raynes’ husband is missing. Devastated and confused, she refuses to believe that he would leave her voluntarily, though her best friend thinks differently. However, her Aunt Alice, a psychic, tells her Adam has been murdered, and when she reveals how she knows this, any hope that Adam is still alive, dissipates.
The police also believe that Adam Raynes was murdered. And Julie is their prime suspect. Her life in ruins, Julie vows to hunt down whoever is responsible for Adam’s murder and make them pay for their crime.
In the meantime, David Gray, a young man who was pulled from a lake by a fisherman when he was 9 years old, wakens from a coma after nearly two decades. Unknown to Julie, Adam and David share a dark connection, a darkness that threatens to devour them both.
Read the first chapter at http://www.joanhallhovey.com/432547197
About the Author:
Writing gives me a sense of achievement and satisfaction that nothing else does. (Except having my babies.) And that’s not a bad analogy, if not an original one. Holding your published book in your hands, (especially that first one), running your fingers over its smooth cover, tracing your name there – is heady stuff! These days of course, knowing my readers are downloading my books onto their Kindles and ipads and Kobos, and so on is just as great. For me, a dream come true, even though it’s been awhile since I wrote my first book.
I am drawn to explore the dark side of humanity, and my intention is to give the reader a roller coaster ride that will resonate long after the last word is read. I know that I am truly blessed to be permitted to work every day at what I most love and need to do. I think you appreciate it even more when you’ve had to go to those awful 9 to 5 jobs you hated, because the bills have to be paid. And I’ve had my share of them over the years — hulling strawberries, waiting tables, grading eggs… (top that one). A couple of those jobs have left scars. I’ve been stalked by a psychotic customer when I was selling ‘CAA’. (Canada’s version of ‘AAA’.) I’ve been chased around the desk by a so-called pillar of society while working as a secretary. But while I wouldn’t want to repeat it, I wouldn’t take back a single moment of any of it. All is ‘grist’ for the writer’s mill.
The next best thing is hearing from my readers. You have been so generous in your comments, so kind to take the time in your own busy lives to write to me. Telling me that my novels kept you up all night, or that you couldn’t put the book down is music to my ears, and keep me going in the dark times that come to all writers, while I find my way about in the unknown, unlit territory of that next book.
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In addition to her critically award-winning suspense novels including And Then He Was Gone and The Deepest Dark, Joan Hall Hovey’s articles and short stories have appeared in such diverse publications as The Toronto Star, Atlantic Advocate, Seek, Home Life Magazine, Mystery Scene, The New Brunswick Reader, Fredericton Gleaner, New Freeman and Kings County Record. Her short story Dark Reunion was selected for the anthology investigating Women, Published by Simon & Pierre.
Ms. Hovey has held workshops and given talks at various schools and libraries in her area, including New Brunswick Community College, and taught a course in creative writing at the University of New Brunswick. For a number of years, she has been a tutor with Winghill School, a distance education school in Ottawa for aspiring writers.She is a member of the Writer’s Federation of New Brunswick, past regional Vice-President of Crime Writers of Canada and International Thriller Writers.
Her books are available at most online book stores, including Amazon, B&N, Kobo, and more. Check out her website at http://wwwjoanhallhovey.com
She lives in Saint John, NB, in an uptown building over 100 years old, with her cat Bella. Aside from writing (and reading of course) She enjoys playing piano and spending time with her grandson. She is presently at work on her latest suspense novel.
Her novels include:
And Then he was Gone
The Deepest Dark
The Abduction of Mary Rose
Tragic Spawn
Night Corridor
Chill Waters
Nowhere To Hide
Listen to the Shadows
Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/Then-He-Was-Gone-ebook/dp/B01NBANC1Q
Joan Hall Hovey will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
October 2, 2018
VBT – Curse of the Sea
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About the Book
Title: Curse of the Sea
Author: Joni Parker
Genre: Urban Fantasy
A NATO training exercise goes terribly wrong when five warships from different countries are mysteriously transported to Eledon, the Realm of the Elves. The warrior, Lady Alexin, is charged to escort the troops back home to London in the year 2031 with the aid of the Wizard Ecstasy and a magic shrinking potion. Yet, when the authorities question her story, Alex is detained and imprisoned under suspicion of terrorism. Caught in a web of politics, betrayal and bungling bureaucracy, the confusing world of the future will push her magical gifts to their limit, and her own future will hang in the balance, caught between “justice” and the place she calls home.
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Author Bio
Fantasy novels are Joni Parker’s writing passion. Thus far, she’s written two series—“The Seaward Isle Saga,” a trilogy, and “The Chronicles of Eledon,” the award-winning four-book series. Her latest project, “Curse of the Sea” is her eighth book and begins a new trilogy. Her work extends beyond novels into short stories with two appearing in an anthology, “Tucson and Beyond” by the Tucson Science Fiction Fantasy writers’ group. Joni’s retired from military and federal government service and devotes her time to writing. She currently resides in Tucson, Arizona.
Links
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FLBT312
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ParkerJoni
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJoniParker
Website/Blog: http://www.joni-parker.com
Giveaway
Win a print copy of “Curse of the Sea”!
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/OWVmMzUzNWJlY2NjOWExMTIxY2QwNzQ2NmEzMTdiOjU5NQ==/?
Book Excerpt
Chapter 2:
A short while later, Captain Jonas returned, accompanied by a middle-aged woman and a group of young sailors, male and female. The woman wore a mottled blue camouflage uniform and her blond hair was tucked under a dark blue cap with a brim and the name USS Lonestar emblazoned in gold.
“Alex, this is Captain Williams. She’ll take over…this place.” He grimaced as he looked around. “Captain Williams, I’ll check in later.” He nodded to her and marched out.
“Nice to meet you, Miss.” Captain Williams held out her hand.
Alex shook her hand and noticed the eagle pins on her collar. She was the same rank as Captain Jonas, equivalent to a Colonel, the rank of her foster father, Colonel Penser. “My name’s Alex. They allow women to be in charge of ships?”
The Captain’s smile grew. “Yep, sure do. Half my crew is female.” She winked. “The Captain disapproves.”
“I get the same reaction. Are you an American?” Alex’s smile broadened.
“Yes, ma’am, from Houston, Texas. Where’re you from?”
“I was born here, but my foster father’s from Texas. He’s a colonel and in charge of the Nyla Army Garrison. I thought I recognized your accent.”
“How long has he been here?”
“A long time. He said he was in a place called ‘Nam before.”
“You mean Vietnam?” The Captain rubbed her chin. “That was about sixty years ago.”
“Oh, he hasn’t been here that long.”
The woman paused, uncertain how to react and pressed her lips together. She turned to monitor the cleaning crew. “When was the last time this hospital was used?”
“We call it a healing house. I was here about three or four years ago. I guess no one’s needed it since.”
“What kind of equipment do you have? An X-ray machine?” She took notice of the bare walls. “What about electrical outlets? Running water?”
Alex shook her head. “We don’t have outlets for anything, but you can get water from the pump outside. We don’t have any kind of X equipment.”
“Uh, where exactly are we?”
“Seaward Isle. It’s part of Eledon, the Elf world. We haven’t had a shipwreck here in years and we just fixed the Elf grid to keep this from happening.”
October 1, 2018
VBT – Skin Deep
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Michelle Hanson will be awarding a $20 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
Detective Sergeant Lena Evans gets recognized on the streets of her hometown of West Joseph, Ohio. She’s a reluctant local celebrity, having defeated serial killer Lathan Collins.
Now, as the one-year anniversary of the Collins case nears, four more women have been brutally murdered—and the killer is sending video footage of their deaths directly to Lena’s inbox.
The investigation brings Lena face-to-face with her past: the Collins case, her celebrity status, her lingering PTSD—and the first woman she ever loved, Special Agent Cait Porter, who’s just been assigned to the case.
The killer gives Lena five days to figure out who he is. But the closer she gets to finding him, the more likely it is that she’ll become his fifth victim.
Read an excerpt
The rattle of the restraint echoed within the room as I dragged my leg closer to my chest. The long chain scraped against the cement ground as I brought my knee under my chin. I gripped the sturdy cuff and squeezed at the hinge. The dim light reflected off the metal cuff, sending streams of light rays against the wall. I placed my thumb over the keyhole and pressed down. The small groove imprinted in my thumb, and I ran my index finger over the impression.
It was a standard cuff, the kind my department used when transporting convicts. It wasn’t easy to pick the lock, but it was certainly possible. All I needed was something to pry the lock with. A Bobby pin or a pair of tweezers. Anything flat and slender.
Instinctually, I reached for my gun—but it, along with the holster, was gone. My badge and cell phone were missing from my back pockets too.
I checked my pockets knowing it was pointless. If he took my badge and gun, then he took anything else I had on me. I slid my hand inside the breast pocket of my black blazer. Then in my pants pockets. I frisked myself in the hope that maybe there was something viable I could use. But nothing. I had nothing.
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About the Author: MICHELLE HANSON is a writer, director, producer, and photographer. She writes detective novels so her degree in Criminology can be put to good use. Michelle is an avid fan of the horror genre, and spends most of her free time volunteering at a local theatre. Her photography has been published in newspapers and online magazines/blogs.
Michelle is the creator, director and writer of the supernatural lesbian web series, Red Rue. She also wrote and directed Gül Girl, and the upcoming psychological thriller, Veho (Fearopoly Films).
Michelle is married, and has two dogs and three cats. She hopes to see her novels turn into a movie or television show one day (Netflix, are you listening?).
Follow Michelle on:
Instagram: MLRED219 http://www.instagram.com/MLRED219
Follow her projects on:
Twitter: Fearopoly http://www.twitter.com/Fearopoly
Instagram: Fearopoly http://www.instagram.com/Fearopoly
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Skin-Deep-Michelle-Hanson/dp/1726435709
Amazon: Kindle edition: https://www.amazon.com/Skin-Deep-Michelle-Hanson-ebook/dp/B07GZXQ4X7
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/skin-deep-michelle-hanson/1129592321
Michelle Hanson will be awarding a $20 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
September 29, 2018
2018 AFL Grand Final
Such a very close game all the way from halfway through the first quarter.
Both teams played superbly. In the end, West Coast Eagles beat Collingwood Magpies by a narrow margin of a few points.
Congrats to both team for an awesome game.
Final Score:
Eagles: 79
Magpies: 74
September 25, 2018
VBT – THE PSP CHRONICLES
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Tim Brown will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
Follow the struggles, joys and sorrows on one man’s personal journey as he chronicles his travails with early onset dementia and a rare, terminal brain disease- no treatment, and no cure.
Read an Exerpt
Now the worst part of the exam was about to be begin. The technician did a series of checks making sure the instrument was properly calibrated the light was working, and the monitor was in the correct position, so Trish and I could see the procedure. The nasal violation began. Up my right nostril – every inch felt like a foot – and slowly down the back of my mouth. It was then I learned I had a strong gag reflex.
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About the Author:
T.J. Brown-an ordinary family man with an extraordinary story. He is from Toronto, On but has called the small town of Ayr, in southwestern Ontario home for the past twenty-five years. He worked in the automotive parts manufacturing sector until five years ago when he had to leave work life due to illness. Tim has been blogging his PSP journey, sharing his personal experiences with this disease as well as FTD – frontotemporal dementia. His readership spans the globe. Through his efforts, it is Tim’s hope to give voice to those suffering from PSP and similar diseases that no longer have a voice of their own. Advocating for those affected… patients, spouses, families and friends. Always, with the goal of raising awareness, understanding and support to further research into prime of life brain diseases. He has made his story universal, yet personal and relatable.
Website: http://www.timbrownauthor.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pspchronicles/
Buy link: https://www.amazon.com/PSP-Chronicles-Tim-Brown/dp/022880342X
Tim Brown will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour
VBT – Gun Kiss
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Gun Kiss
by Khaled Talib
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GENRE: Thriller
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BLURB:
The United States media is abuzz with news of the mysterious disappearance of Hollywood movie star, Goldie St. Helen.
Ex-Delta Force Blake Deco receives a tip from a Mexican friend that a drug lord, obsessed with the beautiful actress, is holding her captive in Tijuana.
With the help of a reluctant army friend, Blake mounts a daring rescue.
What he doesn’t expect is to have feelings for Goldie—or that a killer is hunting them.
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Excerpt:
Clad in tactical black, Blake rested on his chest in the dark chaparral. He watched his curly-haired friend beside him maneuver the tiny dragonfly drone with his phone. The luminous screen showed its flight path toward Dai Lo’s hacienda in the northeastern outskirts of Tijuana, nothing around it for miles.
The drone sent back images of the 375,000 square feet compound, including some of Dai Lo’s men patrolling. It hovered in front of the three-floor mansion built with stacked balconies and double-hung windows. It then swooped down to a porch with three tall columns under a pediment. Finding no entry point, Jack raised it up again.
“I’m going to circle behind,” Jack said.
“Do that,” Blake responded.
“You going to kill Dai Lo?” Jack asked.
“Not unless I have to. I’m not an assassin,” Blake said.
“So why did you give Chavez the impression you will?”
“If Chavez knew what I was thinking, he wouldn’t give me the weapons. Then how are we going to save the actress?”
“You better know what you’re doing, Blake.”
“If you still want to go on that European tour, start thinking positive.”
The tiny drone went around the mansion and flew past a lit pool, buffeting over a garden and an annex connected by a sheltered catwalk. It moved sideways until it came to a lit corner window on the third level. The visual zoomed closer to the windowsill and sent back an image that left both men recoiling with gasps.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
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Khaled Talib is a former journalist with local and international exposure. He has authored three thrillers since 2014.
The author’s works have been praised by NY Times bestselling author Gayle Lynds, NY Times bestselling author Ruth Harris, USA Today bestselling author Jon Land, NY Times bestselling author Keith Thomson, K.J. Howe, and Jon McGoran.
His debut thriller, Smokescreen, was listed as one of the six “boundary-breaking indies” in 2016 by the IndieReader. His second novel, Incognito, won the Silver Award for the AuthorsDB Book Cover Contest 2017. Gun Kiss is his third novel.
Khaled, who is also a member of the International Thriller Writers, resides in Singapore.
Authors website : http://www.khaledtalibthriller.com
Twitter account: https://twitter.com/KhaledTalib
Author Facebook account: https://www.facebook.com/khaled.talib/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/khaledtalibbooks
Author Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/default/e/B00DYPSB72?redirectedFromKindleDbs=true
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6940359.Khaled_Talib
Gun Kiss (YouTube) Book Trailer
GUN KISS Buy links:
The book will be on sale for only $0.99.
Author website direct: http://khaledtalibthriller.com/books/
Amazon Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Gun-Kiss-Khaled-Talib-ebook/dp/B07CVGKQY6
Smashwords
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/823918
Kobo
https://www.amazon.com/Gun-Kiss-Khaled-Talib-ebook/dp/B07CVGKQY6
B&N
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/gun-kiss-khaled-talib/1127553149?ean=2940155243199
Ibooks/Apple
https://itunes.apple.com/nz/book/gun-kiss/id1380716623?mt=11
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RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY
Khaled Talib will be awarding a Amazon Fire 7 8GB tablet to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. The prize is limited to U.S. and Canada only.
Enter to win a Kindle Fire – a Rafflecopter giveaway
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Interview With … Khaled Talib
Welcome Khaled. Tell us about you as a person.
I’m intuitive and stubborn, but that doesn’t mean I won’t offer a lending ear. I’m considered serious by many, but that’s because I know who will appreciate my humor and who won’t. I’m not loud and I like my privacy, so when people obtusely ask me personal questions, which is common where I live, they’ll never see me again.
If you could hang out with one famous person for one day, who would it be and why?
George Clooney. I like his style and temperament. I enjoy watching him in all kinds of movies. He’s a cool and sensitive guy. I remember reading about him once settling the bill of another customer at a restaurant in Berlin. He thought he and his friends were noisy and he was concerned that they might’ve disturbed the customer’s peace.
What’s the story behind your latest book?
Gun Kiss is an accidental book. After completing my second thriller, Incognito, wasn’t sure if I could write another book. I couldn’t sleep one night because my legs were cramping. While rubbing them with an ointment, I watched an old comedy starring a famous actress.
Suddenly, an idea came to write a novel. I started working on it immediately. It’s a fun and breezy novel set in southern California. I can’t say what movie or which actress inspired me to write the book, at least not now. It’s my little secret.
Gun Kiss is a story about a former Delta Force soldier who runs a taco restaurant in Sunset Boulevard. He wears a few hats. He gets into trouble after rescuing a famous movie star from an obsessed drug lord in Tijuana. He finds himself falling in love with her, but their moments together are constantly interrupted by the drug lord stalking them and killing everyone around them to exact revenge.
What is your writing process?
I can write anytime with music or without. Sometimes I listen to music with a certain tempo to boost my energy level, especially for action scenes. When I do listen to music, it doesn’t have to be something that was recently released. It could be from any era. After all, music is music. I also stockpile chocolates to boost my endorphins. I don’t force myself to write if I’m tired. I’ll just take a break and watch some TV and resume the next day.
Tell us about your main character:
Blake Deco is a fictional character. He lives in Hollywood Hills and he’s been trying to break into the movie business as a screen writer. He’s not been successful. He joined the army for a while before setting up a taco restaurant in Sunset Boulevard. Blake is a slightly tense personality with money concerns. He’s worried about the restaurant’s overheads. So, he also moonlights for Homeland Security and the FBI as an artefact hunter. In the beginning of the story, he is tasked by the FBI to recover the Deringer that shot Abraham Lincoln, which has been stolen by a Russian military general in the Balkans. At the same time, he’s compassionate, which explains why he decides to rescue the abducted movie star. It wasn’t part of any assigned mission, but something he chose to do on his own.
If your book was to be turned into a movie, who would play the lead role and why.
James Marsden. I see him as Blake Deco. His expressions are not rigid and he’s capable of expressing different emotions. My protagonist is complex; he can be funny and angsty at the same time. He’s also action-driven and well-toned. He’s neither big nor small.
What are you working on next?
I’m working on a thriller set in South Australia. It’s called Spiral. I used to manage the public relations account of the South Australian Tourism Commission for the Singapore office. My duties included bringing journalists to the State, so I’m familiar with the region. Spiral is a mystery thriller that introduces a Sydneysider working in a Clare Valley vineyard. One night, he stumbles on a dead body…
What advice do you have for other writers who want to get the word out about their book?
You can’t afford to detach yourself from the marketing and promotion side. It means spending time every single day creating awareness through social media platforms, advertising on book promotion sites, and pitching to book bloggers. I also manage an email newsletter that goes out to my subscribers. I feel the newsletter is most important because you’re in direct contact with your readers.
What is your favorite book on your shelf right now?
The Bone Shroud by Jean Rabe. It’s a thriller about an archivist at the Chicago Field Museum who travels to Italy to attend the wedding of her brother. However, the occasion turns into a desperate search for historical relics, and a struggle to stay ahead of a killer.
Do you have any special/extraordinary talents?
I create my own book trailers. Please let me know what you think of the one I did for Gun Kiss.
You are given the choice of one super power. What super power would you have and why?
If I could be like Superman and fly, I would protect every child on earth.
Any final thoughts?
I want to write more stories. I hope I can.
Book Blast – SOFT IRON
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Megan is giving away a prize pack featuring a necklace made by the author. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
Bia is the goddess of strength and compulsion, but those traits have her trapped in iron. A simple kiss could break the curse, but who wants to kiss a statue? Especially a statue of a woman stabbing a man in the heart? She knows better than to hope her celestial mate will find her, but what if her hopes are justified?
Oliver, a very quiet, geeky guy, knows his way around fabric and fashion. He excels at his job of dressing mannequins for storefronts, but he’s lonely. When he sees the statue of Bia, he’s smitten. She’s everything—strong, confident and sexy—everything he wishes to be. What will happen if the shy man overcomes his fears and gives in to his heart’s desire? He just might be able to harness the power of the goddess.
Read an Excerpt
©Megan Slayer, 2018 All Rights Reserved
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He waited until the door closed and peeked around the closest boxes. He didn’t want anyone listening in to his conversation. Call him overly private, but he liked keeping some things to himself.
Oliver whipped his phone from his pocket and snapped a few shots of the statue for future reference. He draped his bag over his shoulder, then hesitated.
Oliver turned and ascended the ladder one more time. He stared into her black eyes. He didn’t know what to say, but he felt he owed her a good-bye of sorts. “I’ll do my best for you to make you beautiful,” he said, then pressed his lips to hers. His mouth tingled and he bit back a moan. He’d never forget the statue. He’d see her again, but still she was one in a million.
Oliver eased away from her and touched his mouth. “Good night, Bia. Until tomorrow.”
He climbed down the ladder and headed out of the stockroom. He’d find the best dress and make her look stunning. Now he had to get her out of his mind so he could focus on his other jobs. He waved at Kratos, who was on the phone, then left the store. His favorite consignment shop tended to have summery dresses in stock and always the one-of-a-kind garments he preferred. If he played his cards right, he’d be able to find what he needed, get the statue dressed, and still make it to his six o’clock appointment before Matilde had a snit fit. Time to hit the stores.
About the Author:
Megan Slayer, aka Wendi Zwaduk, is a multi-published, award-winning author of more than one-hundred short stories and novels. She’s been writing since 2008 and published since 2009. Her stories range from the contemporary and paranormal to LGBTQ and BDSM themes. No matter what the length, her works are always hot, but with a lot of heart. She enjoys giving her characters a second chance at love, no matter what the form. She’s been the runner up in the Kink Category at Love Romances Café as well as nominated at the LRC for best author, best contemporary, best ménage and best anthology. Her books have made it to the bestseller lists on Amazon.com.
When she’s not writing, Megan spends time with her husband and son as well as three dogs and three cats. She enjoys art, music and racing, but football is her sport of choice.
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Website: http://wendizwaduk.com/indexMegan.htm
Blog: https://wendizwaduk.wordpress.com/
Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/wendizwaduk.meganslayer/
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Megan-Slayer/e/B008BJCFSC
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/megan-slayer
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Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5330530.Megan_Slayer
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/MeganSlayer
AUTHOR WILL BE GIVING AWAY:
A prize pack featuring a necklace made by the author
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September 23, 2018
Promo – Tinder Tales – A New Australian Musical
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Tinder Tales – A New Australian Musical
Do you believe in love at first swipe?
Presented by Something Blue Productions
Fresh from it’s sold out premier season at the 2018 Melbourne International Comedy Festival, ‘Tinder Tales – A New Australian Musical’ is back for a second date!
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Written by Mattie Mcleod and Thomas Bradford, ‘Tinder Tales‘ tells the story of Abby, a hopeless romantic so stuck in her own head that she can’t simply date someone. When Abby meets a guy who she thinks is ‘The One’, we not only see the effect their blossoming relationship has on her self-esteem, but also the affect her self-esteem has on her relationship. Her Insecurities and Doubts manifest themselves as characters, her Mother’s helpful advice haunts her and just when it seems like it can’t get any worse, Dr. Over-Analyze comes out to play.
Tinder Tales is presented in one act with a catchy pop score, heavily stylized movement and melodramatic fantasies. This raunchy original show delights in satirizing both romantic comedies and online dating, even as it succumbs to all their worst tropes. Through the lense of digital dating, the show explores anxiety, sexuality, love and mental health in a modern age.
We invite you to be a part of a world that is as comical as it is touching, and as cringe-inducing as it is relatable. With direction by Clary Riven, choreography by Kirra Sibel and musical direction by Thomas Bradford, ‘Tinder Tales – A New Australian Musical‘ is proudly presented by Something Blue Productions.
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Highlights from the premier Melbourne International Comedy Festival:
What the critics are saying…
“The audience was constantly in stitches” – Weekend Notes
“Laughs of recognition rose in waves from the crowd…” – Squirrel Comedy
“Perhaps the loudest applause should go to the creators of this show….Tinder Tales is a stroke of musical comedy brilliance.” – Theatre Press
Bookings highly recommended.
Please be advised this show contains adult themes, sexual references and mature language. Not recommended for people under the age of 15. Parental discretion recommended for people under the age of 18.
Tinder Tales – A New Australian Musical
Dates: 24th – 28th of October, 2018
Time: 24th – 27th at 7pm, 28th at 8pm
Cost: $35/@$32 (plus booking fees)
Venue: The Loft, Chapel Off Chapel, 12 Little Chapel Street Prahran.
Tickets: www.chapeloffchapel.com.au/show/tinder-tales
Media contact for interview arrangements, high-res photos, bios and further info:
Anne Gasko
Producer
Something Blue Productions
Ph: +61-405-025-321
Email: anne@somethingblueproductions.com
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September 18, 2018
Book Blast – PRISCILLA
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Charlene will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
After losing her father and husband in a mine disaster, Priscilla Heartsel faces poverty and eviction from her home by a heartless mine owner. Tricked into a bank robbery gone wrong, Braxton Gamble finds himself shot and unconscious in Priscilla’s bed. Can they survive long enough to find a love more precious than gold?
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Read an Excerpt
April 9, 1844, Wildcat Ridge, Utah
Priscilla Heartsel wiped her bloody fingers on her long, filthy dress. She was kneeling in a hole, one of several she had dug with her own hands, seeking, searching….
Papa. Robert, where are you?
She sat back on her heels and glanced around. Several other women and children remained on the hill of rubble that, earlier that day, had been a working gold mine. The Lucky Lady. What a travesty.
“Priscilla?”
Her friend, Thalia, climbed the ragged hill toward her, holding her skirts up out of the dirt.
“You need to go home and sleep, Priscilla,” Thalia said when she reached her. “You need to eat.”
“No. I have to find Robert and Papa.” She began clawing at the earth again and uncovered a shoe. Brown, not black like Robert’s. Not Papa’s either. She thought of the smile her husband had given her that morning as she’d tied his shoes before he left for his law office. If only he’d stayed there.
Why did you have to come to the mine? Why didn’t you stay here? With me? Wasn’t it bad enough that I lost Papa? Why did I have to lose you, too?
Thalia grabbed her wrists to stop her. “They’re gone. They’re all gone. All our men, some of the women and even children. Gone.”
Priscilla managed one word. “Jeffrey?”
Thalia nodded, and a tear escaped to run down her cheek.
Priscilla pulled her friend into her arms. Poor Thalia and Jeffrey were to be married in May. Priscilla wanted to cry. For Thalia, for herself, for all the widows and children left behind by this horrible, horrible tragedy. The need was a pain in her chest, in her throat. Her entire body felt ready to explode from withholding her grief.
Grown women do not cry, Priscilla. We keep our emotions to ourselves. No one wants to hear about your pain. They have their own.
Thalia drew away, tears raining down her cheeks now, but kept hold of Priscilla’s grubby hands. Looking down at them, Priscilla noticed her wedding ring was gone.
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About the Author
Charlene Raddon’s first serious attempt at writing fiction came in 1980 when a vivid dream drove her to drag out a typewriter and begin writing. Because of her love of romance novels and the Wild West, her primary genre is historical romance. Kensington Books originally published five of her novels. These were later released as eBooks by Tirgearr Publishing. Currently, Charlene is an Indie author with . She also designs book covers, specializing in western historical.
Website: https://charleneraddon.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/charleneb.b.raddon
Twitter: http://twitter.com/craddon
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Charlene-Raddon/e/B000APG1P8/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1232154.Charlene_Raddon
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07G9N8PC7/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0
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Charlene will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
